What is Collagen Loading and Should You Try It?

what-is-collagen-loading-should-you-try-it

Collagen is the most plentiful protein in the body, making up between 25% and 35% of the body’s connective tissue found in the joints, ligaments, skin, and elsewhere!

Collagen is found within, or directly interacts with, the development of hair growth, joint health, eyesight, nail health, fat metabolism, and many other aspects of body composition, health, and wellness.

The body produces collagen, thankfully.

Unfortunately, the body produces less collagen as it ages, which is a big part of why our skin becomes thinner and more wrinkly (this is called “laxity” in the literature.) This contributes to thinning hair and joint aches and pains.

Other factors influence these age-related bodily changes, but collagen is an important facet of healthy aging, so we should understand it.

Fortunately, collagen can be supplemented affordably. Collagen is most often harvested from the bones of cows. That might sound a little gross at first blush, but don’t fear. Bovine skeletons that would otherwise go to waste are boiled until the collagen is extracted. The odorless and flavorless substance is then harvested and turned into a powder, which can be added to food and drinks and consumed by people such as yourself.

How Collagen Loading Allegedly Works

When you first start collagen supplementation, some people suggest a collagen-loading routine.

During this process, you would typically take 3 scoops (or whatever dose you are using) per day for a month, rather than the single scoop per serving than you would consume during regular periods.

The idea is that when you begin a collagen regimen, your body’s collagen stores are depleted, so you should give your body a ton of collagen to make up the difference so that you can jumpstart the “rebuilding” process for things like your health, nails, and skin once more.

The rationale basically concludes that by flooding the body with collagen in the early days, the patient will observe positive changes and will be encouraged enough to continue collagen therapy in the long run, even at the lower doses that follow the initial month of collagen loading.

Is Collagen Loading Safe?

So does collagen loading work, and should you try it?

The first thing to understanding is that too much of anything can be a bad thing. If you have concerns about your health, make sure to speak with your primary care physician to learn more about your individual needs.

As for collagen loading, there is limited research to support whether it works or not. If you look around social media, you will find people who talk about it working for them.

Likewise, athletes who take collagen therapy report improved joint pain following grueling exertion, and studies suggest that the skin in aging mammals can be provided with improved laxity.

To that end, it is important to also understand that any changes to health can take time. Meaning, if you take collagen at any dose, a period of weeks or months may be required to notice any improvements.

Collagen Supplements

So, where do you get supplemental collagen? Fortunately, there is no shortage of natural collagen sources in the world, meaning that supplemental collagen is extremely affordable.

We have several different brands and products to recommend, so check out each to figure out which formulation and price structure works best for your needs.

All of these products provide the highest quality of collagen available, giving you a lot of value for your money. Wherever you source your collagen, however, we wish you the best results possible. Good luck!